On 2007-02-23 20:05, luckytiki wrote:Also, being a graduate student stuck in Indiana doesn't allow for much travel, so what's the best way to go about obtaining said mugs? Are people willing to help out or am I on my own? Thanks!

It depends on what school you are going to. If it is IU Bloomington, then we can probably help out. If it is Purdue, then you are on your own

You are in potential rich hunting grounds, because you are midway between two significant Tiki areas: Chicago and Columbus (where the late, great Kahiki existed). Also, this area may have not yet been heavily hunted, and you may be able to find some good stuff in the wild, e.g. thrift stores, flea markets, and antique stores. I once stumbled across an extremely rare WWII slat-grilled Jeep in Knaw Bone, Indiana. While not exactly Tiki, it seemed to suggest the off-the-beaten-path places hold lots of treasures.

Also, people trade a lot on this board, and there is, of course, Ebay. As for events, there are biggies on the east coast (Hukilau) and west coast (Tiki Oasis). Chicago may have events where mugs may be acquired. Check out the Tiki events section on this board to keep in the loop.

Each of the events works differently and has their own approach to their mugs, but generally the reason event organizers create their own mugs is to: 1) entice people to attend their event, and 2) provide a souvenir for those who have attended the event. That means, understandably, that their attendees come first.

There have been situations in the past where there have been event attendees who have not been able to get a mug, due to sales to non-attendees -- largely through people who buy more than their "fair share" of mugs at the event. This has generally led event organizers to restrict the sale of their mugs, in an effort to make sure that the people who support their event with their physical attendance have the ability to get one.

That may mean that they are only sold at the actual event, or are only sold to people who have purchased a ticket for the event, or that only one mug can be purchased per person. This makes it a little rougher for those who just want the mug and aren't going to the event, but it means the mug gets to serve its intended purpose -- as a souvenir. Many hold it to be poor form to buy an event mug for an event they did not attend. On the other hand, many events wind up with plenty of mugs for everyone, and are very happy to sell to non-attendees.

As mentioned, each event is different, so look for how each event will be handling their mug sales, and look for contact information for the event organizers so you can contact them after the event to see if they have any extra mugs.

By no means do I want someone who actually attends the event to lose out because I want one and I take "theirs".

I understand the idea that it might be bad form to buy an "event mug" for an event you didn't attend, but I view these as artwork and usually the events churn out some of the most creative mugs (tiki oasis V is one on my favorites), so if I like a piece I'm going to do what I can to obtain it within reasonable means.

Being a graduate students limits my time and money, so I can't afford to take trips that aren't related to school or visiting friends and family; basically I can't take trips to get these mugs. I'm not asking anyone to take pity on me and I guess some would say (nobody here) if I can't afford it I shouldn't be involved in collecting, but I think that's a pretty elitist view.

The point is if someone wants to help me I will take them up on it, if everyone chooses to ignore me then that's fine too, I'll understand the reasons, and I won't complain.

I appreciate the tips and advice. Thank you for giving me some insight to some of the etiquette involved with tiki mug collecting; it's always good to know the "rules".

Many hold it to be poor form to buy an event mug for an event they did not attend.

and many don't.

some are anti-social and just like mugs.

While I don't personally have any mugs from events that I have not attended, I do have a ton of mugs from bars & restaurants that I've never been to. In fact, many went out of business before I was born. I don't see a difference.

-Z
_________________Thank God The Tiki Bar Is Open
Thank God The Tiki Torch Still Shines...

No prob! It's not really about any "rules," though -- more about giving you a heads-up on the lay of the land , so that your mug quests can be more fruitful (and so that if you do reach a roadblock, you might have some understanding about where it came from). Like I said, every event is different. Good luck!